Long-Term Health Impacts of GM Foods - Essay Example

Long-term Health Impacts of GM Foods The debate about the genetically modified foods has centered on the health, ethical and psychological ramification of the technology. The proponents of the technology attempt to convince people that consumption of the GM food is safe. However, compelling evidence from scientific studies on the laboratory animals shows that the long-term health implications of eating the GM foods are dire and costly. The experiments with animals have revealed that GM foods poses notable health risks, including infertility, accelerated aging, immune problems, and malfunctioning of body systems. Hence, the harm from the GM foods is enormous, and people should not risk their lives. The long-term health challenges make the GM foods dangerous for human consumption. The consumption of the GM food has the potential of causing sterility and stunted growth in human beings. Compelling evidence from the animal feeding studies indicates that long-term use of the genetically modified foods causes fertility problems and increases the infant mortality rates. The laboratory animals fed on the GM food had unnatural slow growth and developed hairy mouths (American Academy of Environmental Medicine). Consequently, inability to reproduce can have far-reaching implications for the family and the society. The couples who cannot have children tend to be unhappy in the marriage life. Although the sole purpose of marriage may not be to have children, the kids are important components of the family. The inability to reproduce presents tremendous emotional, physical, and financial burden for couples, friends, and immediate, as well as, extended family. Many people might undergo a series of immense feelings of sadness and boredom. The feelings may turn into grief, which affects the relationships, and the infertile partner may fear that the other person might quit the relationship. Abbie argues that the infertility compels the family to spend a lot of many seeking for medical interventions (22). The financial burden may affect the immediate family and the friends as well. Thus, the consumption of the genetically modified food is harmful, and the health implications are costly. In the United States, farmers claim that the pigs and cows feeding on the GM feed have developed infertility problems. The pigs and cows cannot reproduce after consuming the GM feeds (Smith 39). The intention of having the domestic animals is to get yield. Arguably, the farmers spend enormous sums of money to acquire, feed, and manage the health of the livestock. The livestock management practices are not cheap, and the farmers invest both money and time to ensure that the cows and pigs grow healthy and reproduce. In essence, the joy of the farmers is to have fertile animals. However, the effects of the GM feeds are dire and costly. It becomes a financial burden when one has invested in the animals, and they cannot increase in number through natural reproduction. Such effects of GM feeds on animals should serve as a precaution to the human beings consuming or intending to eat the genetically modified foods. The repercussions of GM foods present hefty cost, and no one should risk life in pursuit of short-lived benefits. If the GM feeds can render the animals infertile, the consumption of the foods by humans is a threat to their health. The genetically modified foods accelerate the aging rates and interfere with the immune system. The experimental animals that have fed on the GM feeds have indicated signs of early aging and compromised immune system. Scientific evidence underpins the risk of the GM foods disrupting the normal aging process. The feeds change the metabolism and cellular processes of the body (Diane 47). Nobody wants to become old at a faster rate than the normal one. Arguably, everyone wants to remain healthy and young. In fact, many people utilize all sorts of mechanism to ensure that they do not become old. The interference of the aging process poses a challenge to the physiological mechanisms of the body. The implication is that the world might have many people in their dying ages in the future if the humans continue to consume the GM foods. Indeed, the GM foods tend to shorten the lifespan of the living organism as the results from the experimental animals have indicated. The altered processes lead to the interference of the normal body activities including the aging process. Therefore, the consumption of the genetically modified has a potential of shortening the human’ lifespan by accelerating the aging process. The genetically modified foods can interfere with the normal functioning of the immune system. The animal experimental studies have shown significant effects of GM feeds on the immune systems of the laboratory animals. The feeds cause immune dysregulation that renders bodies susceptible to diseases (American Academy of Environmental Medicine). The immune system plays a critical role in defending the body from the diseases. Hence, the disruption of the body’s defense mechanism poses a health challenge. Everyone intends to have body systems devoid of any impairment. In essence, health is paramount, and a healthy individual is productive in all aspects of life. People should decide whether they want a healthy or immune compromised body. In reality, no one intends to have a body that has enormous health problems. Thus, the human beings should not eat the GM foods because the products render the body defenseless of the diseases. The feeding of GM foods can result in the malfunctioning of the organs and body systems. Findings from the animal studies strongly show that the GM feeds can modify the normal functioning of body organs. Notably, researchers have reported perforations in the stomach and lungs of the mice that fed on the GM corn (Diane 48). The organs should function optimum without any external or internal disruption. The organ and body systems should work synergistically to support life. Whenever the systems malfunction, the body is in great danger. A person can lose life if an essential organ of the body fails to function. Therefore, the dire consequences of the consumption of the genetically modified foods are enormous. The results of the experimental animals show that the feeding of the GM feeds increased the chances of developing tumors in many organs of the animal’s body (Jeanne 7). The development of tumors exposes the body to the dreadful cancer. Cancer is a terminal disease, and its health implications in terms of finances can strain an individual, as well as, the immediate family. Thus, the risk of consuming GM foods is enormous and can lead to premature death. Thus, it is advisable to avoid the GM foods in order to have a long life. In conclusion, compelling evidence shows that the consumption of the GM foods is dangerous because it poses adverse long-term health impacts. Studies on the experimental animals have shown dire effects of the GM foods on the health. Notably, the GM foods have the potential of causing infertility, accelerating the aging process, and interfering with the organ systems. Consequently, infertility can have emotional, physical, and financial burdens on the couples, family, and the friends. The disruption of the normal aging process can shorten the lifespan of humans. Similarly, the interference of normal organ and body systems poses a threat to the health of an individual. Compromised immune systems render the body defenseless and susceptible to diseases. Hence, it is paramount for human beings to avoid GM foods due to the adverse health implications. Health is significant, and no one can disregard the scientific evidence that question the safety of GM food in pursuit of short-lived benefits. Humans should desist from consuming GM foods in order to have longer and healthier lives. Work Cited Abbie, Goldbas. “GMOs: What are they? Genetically modified organisms”. International Journal of Childbirth Education 29.3 (2014): 20-24. Print. American Academy of Environmental Medicine. Genetically Modified Foods. Web. 9 Apr 2015 < http://www.aaemonline.org/gmopost.html> Diane, Melissa. “Say no to GMOs.” Better Nutrition 73.3 (2011): 46-50. Print. Jeanne, D’Brant. “GMOs, gut flora, the shikimate pathway and cytochrome dysregulation.” Journal of the Council on Nutrition 37.1 (2014): 5-12. Print. Smith, James. “The campaign for healthier eating in America: healthy eating means no GMOs.” Total Health 29.2 (2007): 38-40. Print. Read More